Cam operated timer switch assembly with manually adjustable cam and clutch mechanism

ABSTRACT

Manual axial and rotational indexing of a cam carrying shaft engages a clutch means so as to apply power driven rotation to a cam means carried by the shaft, and causes engagement of a means to retain the clutch in engagement.

United- States Patent 91 Jones et al.

CAM OPERATED TIMER SWITCH ASSEMBLY WITH MANUALLY ADJUSTABLE CAM ANDCLUTC MECHANISM Inventors: Lewis E. Jones; Richard W. Wilkinson, both ofIndianapolis, Ind.

P. R. Mallory & Co. Inc., Indianopolis, Ind.

Filed: 0111.20, 1971 Appl. No.: 190,738

Assignee:

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,546,557

Primary ExaminerJ. R. Scott Attorr zy fiiehard HfChildress, Robert F.Meyer and Henry W. Cummings et al.

[57] ABSTRACT Manual axial and rotational indexing of a cam carryingshaft engages a clutch means so as to apply power driven rotation to acam means carried by the shaft,

US. Cl. ..200/3s BA, 200/38 R 1 1. c1. ..H0lh 7/08, HOlh 43/10 causesengagement a means the clutch F ield of Search ..200/3s ,engagemem' 12Claims, 3 Drawing Figures so I I U a 7o z i 12/1970 Bowman etal;..200/38A 1 CAM OPERATED'TIMER SWITCHASSEMBLY WITH MANUALLY ADJUSTABLECAM AND CLUTCH MECHANISM I thetimer and to start the timer once theprogram is set.

For example, the program of the timer may be manually setby rotating thecam carrying shaft to a predetermined starting point with the camcarrying shaft being manually indexed in or out to apply power drivenrotation to the cam programming means of the timer.

The present invention is concerned with a timer wherein its program maybe manually set through manual rotation of the cam carrying shaft withpower driven rotation being applied to the cam programming means byaxially indexing the cam carrying shaft.

An object of the invention is to provide such a timer which is neatcompact, and easy to produce.

Another objectof the invention is the provision of such a timer havingclutch means coupling a cam means to a motor drive means, the clutchmeans being engaged-when the cam carrying shaft is axially indexed.Still another object of the invention is to provide such a timer havinga clutch means coupling a cam means to a motor drive means with means tohold the clutch in engagement after the clutch has once been engaged.

Yet another object of theinvention is the provision ofa timerwhereinmanual axial rotation and indexing of a cam carrying shaft engages aclutch means so as to apply power driven rotation to a cam means andwherein stop means retains the clutch means in engagent r Another objectof the invention is the provision of a timer including a shelf meansproviding a means to seat a mor/able contact blade and aid inits-alignment. 1 A further object of the inventionis theprovision of atimer wherein. a cam means is carried by a hub and wherein? the hubportion engages'an aperture of the cam means which is slightly largerthan the hub.

- These and other objects. of theinvention will become apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the timer of the present invention; and rFIGS; 2 and 3 are side elevations in partial section showing theelements of the timer in different operating modes.

Generally speaking, theobjects of the invention are accomplished byproviding a timer which in general comprises a cam carrying shaft,,amotor drive means, cam means rotatabl'y' carried by the cam carryingshaft and electrical switch means responsive to. rotation of the cammeans, spring biased clutch means selectively coupling the cam meanstothe motor drive means, a collar having an arcuate step carried by thecam carryin'g' shaft and engaging the cam-means, stop means, manualaxial and rotational indexing of the cam carrying shaft engagingthe'clutch means so as to apply motor driven rotation to the cammeans'and engaging the-stop means with the step to retain the clutch means inengagement.

Referring now to the drawings there is shown a timer l0 employing theprinciples of the invention. Timer lO in general includes a suitablemotor 16 such as a syn.- chronous motor coupled to a speed reducingmeans such as a gear train enclosed in housing 18 which is:

. connected to an output pinion 20. Timing section 14.

ring 27, and the end plate 30 cooperatively mate each other throughcooperating notches and protrusions 36-38, 40-42, 44-46, and 48-50. Thecooperating notches 36 and 38 also receive electrical switching means 24so as to be cantilevered by the housing, while cooperating notches andprotrusions 44-46 cantilever a portion of the means 28 which retains the'clutch means in engagement. I

Cam means 22 includes a single cam 22 .in the shape of a ring andhavinga circular recess 19 carried on a hub portion 48. Hub portion 48 isfixedly carried on cam carrying shaft 50 through splines 52. Clutchmeans 26 includes a gear 54 rotatably carried on a hub 64, co= operatingclutch faces 58 and 60 having serrations 58' and 60 and coil spring 62.As shown, clutch face58 is staked or otherwise fixedly carried by gear54,. while clutch facev 60 is integral with hub 48. Hub extends throughthe double-D aperature 65 of cam 22" arid into the double-D recess 67 ofcollar 72'. A150 included-as part of the clutch means 26'is a flatspring 68 having peripheral leafs 68', As will be apparent, spring 68provides a means whereby the serrations 58 and 60" may be readilyengageable. Electrical switch means 24 includes a movable contact blade23. and 'afixed contact blade 21 each having electrical contacts 23 and21' adapted to engage one another. Electrical terminals 29 are integralwith each of the contact blades. The means 28 holding the clutch means26 into engagement includes a stop means 70 and collar 72 carried on camcarrying shaft 50 and engaginghub 48 of the cam means 22. Stop means 70includes a tab 74 carried by a spring blade 76 which iscantileveredthrough the cooperation of notch 44 and protrusion 46.

78' at the outer diameter of the collar.

In operation, manual rotation of cam carrying shaft 50 sets the desiredprogram for the timer by setting the circular distance step 22" of cam22' must travel before the step reaches cam follower 2370f moveablecontact blade 23. Once the desired program hasb'een. set, cam carryingshaft 50 isthen axially indexed. inwardly, as shown in FIG. 3, :toengagethe; clutch through engagement of the serrations 58'- and 60': of clutchfaces 58 and 60, the faces being properly mated with the aid of flatspring 68. During manual rotation and axial indexing of the camcarryingshaft, tab 74 engages arcurate step 78 to hold thecollar 72andthus the clutch faces together. Cam 22 is then rotated through motor 16.Asv shown in FIG. 2, when the end of the desired program or its cyclehas been reached ridge 78 engages tab 74 to move it out of engagementwith the collar thus allowing the clutch means 26 to become disengaged.Cam carrying shaft 50 is retracted until tab 74 engages circular recess19 in cam 22.

Aperture 65 is slightly larger than hub 48 such that there is a certainamount of play between the hub and cam 22'. This results in a quickbrake of electrical contacts 21' and 23' when follower 23 engages step22". Shelf means 80 provides a means for the movable blade 23 to beseated to thus limit its travel when follower 23 engages step 22" of cam22'. Shelf means 80 includes an L-shaped member 82 extending from a base84, and a wedge 86 carried by the base. The shelf means is carried byring shaped member 25 through the cooperation of notch 40 and protrusion42 carrying L- shaped member 82. Movable blade 23 rests on base 84 andwedge 86 helps both blades maintain axial alignment.

What is claimed is:

l. A timer comprising:

a. a cam carrying shaft,

b'. a motor drive means,

c. a cam ring including a hub carried by said cam carrying shaft, saidhub having a first clutch face, and electrical switch means responsivetorotation of said cam ring, 1

d. a gear having a second clutch face carried by said cam carryingshaft, and a coil spring disposed between said first and second clutchfaces, each of said clutch faces having opposed serrations adapted toengage one another,

e. a collar having an arcuate step carried by said cam carrying shaftengaging said cam ring, and

f. stop means engaging said arcuate step,

g. manual axial and roational indexing of said cam carrying shaftengaging said first and second clutch faces so as to apply motor drivenrotation of said cam ring and engaging said stop means with said arcuatestep to retain said first and second clutch faces in engagement.

. 2. A timer according to claim 1 wherein said stop means includes aspring member connected to a wall of the timer housing.

3. A timer according to claim 2 wherein said spring member is a bladecontilevered from said wall.

4. A timer comprising:

a. cam carrying shaft,

b. amotor drive means,

c. cam means rotatably carried by said cam 'carr' ying shaft, andelectrical switch means responsive to rotation of said cam means,

d. clutch means coupling said cam means to said motor drive means, 1

e. a collar having an arcuate step carried by said cam carrying shaftengaging said cam means,and f. a spring blade connected to a wall of ahousing for the timer,

g. manual axial and rotational indexing of said cam carrying shaftengaging said clutch means so as to apply motor driven rotation to saidcam means and I engaging said spring blade with said arcuate step toretain said clutch means in engagement. 5. A timer according to claim 4wherein said spring blade includes a tab carried at its free end, saidtab enmeans includes a cam ring carried by a hub having a clutch facecarried by said cam carrying shaft; and said clutch means includes agear having a clutch face carried by said cam carrying shaft, each ofsaid clutch faces having opposed serrations adapted to engage oneanother, and a coil spring disposed between said faces.

8. A timer according to claim 7 wherein said clutch means furtherincludes a spring means disposed between said gear and an end wall ofsaid timer. v

9. A timer according to claim 4'wherein said hub engages an aperture ofsaid cam which is slightly larger than said hub.

10. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said electrical switch meansincludes fixed and moveable contact blades cantilevered in a wall of thetimer housing and having cooperating electrical-contacts.

v 11. A timer according to claim 10 further including a shelf meansdisposed at the free end of said bladesv and carried by a wall of thetimer housing for'limiting the travel of said moveable'blade and formaintaining alignment of the blades.

12. A timer according to claim 11 wherein said shelf

1. A timer comprising: a. a cam carrying shaft, b. a motor drive means,c. a cam ring including a hub carried by said cam carrying shaft, saidhub having a first clutch face, and electrical switch means responsiveto rotation of said cam ring, d. a gear having a second clutch facecarried by said cam carrying shaft, and a coil spring disposed betweensaid first and second clutch faces, each of said clutch faces havingopposed serrations adapted to engage one another, e. a collar having anarcuate step carried by said cam carrying shaft engaging said cam ring,and f. stop means engaging said arcuate step, g. manual axial androational indexing of said cam carrying shaft engaging said first andsecond clutch faces so as to apply motor driven rotation of said camring and engaging said stop means with said arcuate step to retain saidfirst and second clutch faces in engagement.
 2. A timer according toclaim 1 wherein said stop means includes a spring member connected to awall of the timer housing.
 3. A timer according to claim 2 wherein saidspring member is a blade contilevered from said wall.
 4. A timercomprising: a. cam carrying shaft, b. a motor drive means, c. cam meansrotatably carried by said cam carrying shaft, and electrical switchmeans responsive to rotation of said cam means, d. clutch means couplingsaid cam means to said motor drive means, e. a collar having an arcuatestep carried by said cam carrying shaft engaging said cam means, and f.a spring blade connected to a wall of a housing for the timer, g. manualaxial and rotational indexing of said cam carrying shaft engaging saidclutch means so as to apply motor driven rotation to said cam means andengaging said spring blade with said arcuate step to retain said clutchmeans in engagement.
 5. A timer according to claim 4 wherein said springblade includes a tab carried at its free end, said tab engaging saidarcuate step.
 6. A timer according to claim 5 wherein said collar has aridge engaging said spring blade to move it out of said arcuate step. 7.A timer according to claim 4 wherein said cam means includes a cam ringcarried by a hub having a clutch face carried by said cam carryingshaft; and said clutch means includes a gear having a clutch facecarried by said cam carrying shaft, each of said clutch faces havingopposed serrations adapted to engage one another, and a coil springdisposed between said faces.
 8. A timer according to claim 7 whereinsaid clutch means further includes a spring means disposed between saidgear and an end wall of said timer.
 9. A timer according to claim 4wherein said hub engages an aperture of said cam which is slightlylarger than said hub.
 10. A timer according to claim 4 wherein saidelectrical switch means includes fixed and moveable contact bladescantilevered in a wall of the timer housing and having cooperatingelectrical contacts.
 11. A timer according to claim 10 further includinga shelf means disposed at the free end of said blades and carried by awall of the timer housing for limiting the travel of said moveable bladeand for maintaining alignment of the blades.
 12. A timer according toclaim 11 wherein said shelf means includes a base, and L-shaped memberextending from said base engaging said wall, and a wedge carried by saidbase.